The Susitna River, at Gold Creek, has risen about 3 feet in the past 24 hours.  The water level was at 6.57 feet this afternoon, the Flood Stage is at 14 feet at that location.

The Talkeetna River, above the railroad bridge has come up about 2 feet in the last 24 hours.  Water level at that location is 4.81 feet with a Flood Stage of 12.5 feet.

Currently there is room for quite a bit more water…which is good news as there is a lot more water to come as the warm temperatures have arrived for the Memorial Day weekend.

For current information go to the hydrology pages of the National Weather Service website…found at http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/

Mayor Larry DeVillbiss had this to say:

L Devilbiss–Sunshine Creek Park

5-22-13 Denali Report

Manning is no stranger to the KTNA airwaves as he has produced several news pieces on a free lance basis since July of 2012, most notably Manning helped KTNA provide radio coverage of the flood in September of last year.

KTNA General Manager Will Peterson said  “I’m pleased with how this hiring process worked out.  Phillip is smart, curious, has a good on-air presence, and is a good writer.  Reporting in a small town is a tough job, I’m confident that Phillip will meet the challenge.  He has professional experience in several different settings that will help provide a good foundation for reporting in the Susitna Valley.  Manning is a welcome addition to the KTNA staff.”

Manning received a degree in International Studies from Austin College in Texas in 2006.  He has been a resident of Talkeetna since 2011 and serves on the Board of Directors of the Denali Arts Council.  Manning begins work with KTNA on June 5.

According to teammates, Bielstein suddenly collapsed after the team rounded the feature known as Windy Corner, just as they reached a commonly used gear caching site at 13,500 feet.  The expedition guides contacted the Kahiltna Basecamp Manager via radio for emergency assistance and then initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the unconscious client.  An NPS ranger patrol stationed at the 14,200-foot camp arrived on scene within one hour.  An NPS volunteer nurse (RN) performed a medical assessment and pronounced the patient deceased.  Bielstein’s remains were recovered that evening by the NPS A-Star B3 helicopter via a long-line operation, then subsequently flown to Talkeetna and transferred to a local funeral home.

This fatality was the first significant incident of the 2013 mountaineering season in Denali National Park and Preserve.  As of Tuesday, May 21, a total of 920 climbers are registered to climb Mt. McKinley in 2013, with 352 climbers currently on the mountain.  Of the 14 that already completed their climbs, five have reached the summit.  There are currently 12 mountaineers attempting Mt. Foraker, with no summits recorded.

photos by Robin Song

Earth and Beyond host and producer Robin Song makes a visit to Saunders’ Field Crane Sanctuary in Trapper Creek, and shares the experience. Text follows audio. Audio runs 6 minutes.

NatObs051913Saunders Crane Sanctuary

A spur-of-the-moment decision wound up paying off in a big way for me on May 12^th. I needed to make a trip to the store and while I was at the “Y” I decided to go see if there was any waterfowl at the Mile 101 lake. I pulled off the Parks highway and stood beside my rig, glassing a pair of Pintail Ducks and Green-winged Teals. It was pretty quiet, there, and when I got back in the car, I decided a trip up to Saunder’s Crane Sanctuary might brighten my day. I had planned to go there after I returned from an up-coming birding trip to Homer, but the Mountain was “out”, as we say when we can see Denali. The sun was shining, and I knew there was still snow on the barley fields, which makes for a nice backdrop for crane photos. Lyra was agreeable, as always, to my plans, so off we went.

I drove around to the south end of the fields, which gives the view of Denali above the tree line. Lesser Sandhill Cranes dotted the barley fields amongst patches of snow and ice. I estimated 250 to 300 cranes were on the ground, most sinking their long bills through the soft snow and standing water, seeking barley seeds. I spent the next two and ½ hours absorbed with the spectacle before me. A lot of wildlife was concentrated on the 70+ acres of cleared land, and the activity was non-stop. The cranes were intent on eating. Very little courting was going on. A few preened and some napped with long necks curved around and heads tucked into back feathers. But the main focus was getting to those barley seeds buried under the water, snow and ice. Some cranes stabbed their beaks into clumps of exposed grass and flipped them into the air, shaking out seeds in the process. Bonded pairs moved in unison, feeding side by side. Here and there disputes erupted.

While courting cranes perform a graceful dance of leaps, twirls and bows, tussles are quite different. A crane will lunge at another, wings spread. If the attacked crane turns to fight, both birds spring into the air, wings spread, legs striking at each other. Though I haven’t witnessed cranes actually hurting each other, tussles can last a few minutes and seem quite intense. When the birds finally break apart, one or both will curve their head over, neck feathers erect, beak almost touching the ground, holding this display posture for a few moments to underscore dominance. If one crane doesn’t back down to this display, the fight can begin again.

In amongst the cranes was a flock of Pectoral Sandpipers. The cranes towered over these graceful little “peeps”, which plied the standing water for food. A few were near me and I got to study them through binoculars, marveling at the intricate patterns of their feathers.

Conspicuous by its absence was the song of the Fox Sparrow. I had always heard this lovely singer in the forests ringing the barley fields in years past, lending its song to the scene while I watched the cranes. Not so this year.

American Widgeons and Northern Shoveler Ducks were also nearby and farther out in the field I could see Pintails, Mallards, and Green-winged Teals. Canada Geese were also present in large numbers, along with a few Mew Gulls. Three times an adult Bald Eagle arrived and sent the nervous geese, ducks and peeps into the air. A few cranes joined them, though most stayed on the ground. When an eagle was present, the sky would fill with birds, and I scrambled to take photos of the circling flocks going in different directions.

Because I hadn’t planned this trip, I didn’t take an extra camera card, and used up the existing space on my card fairly quickly. (Note to self: always  keep an extra card in my camera bag- especially during bird migrations!) Just as I was heading back to the car, a Northern Harrier Hawk came winging in low over the field, startling the peeps and ducks into flight. I quickly deleted as many photos as I dared, in order to photograph one of my favorite raptors. I was rewarded with one precious shot of the Harrier with Denali as a backdrop. The hawk soon glided out of my view to the west end of the field, and I knew it was time to tear myself away and head home. As I drove slowly along the edge of the field, watching the continuous activity, I thought what a gift this Sanctuary is. I’ll never get to Africa, but I imagine I’d feel this same excitement watching the wildlife drama there. And maybe it’s a bit more special, knowing these birds have migrated such a long distance, through all kinds of weather and obstacles to come to this very field, counting on this food source to be here. The people who respect Dale Saunders’ legacy to continue to provide food for the cranes have put the barley here, and so the birds come. And those who love birds come to watch the spectacle, grateful for the opportunity. May it always be so.

By Robin Song 5-19-2013

This is story meant for young people, written and voiced by former longtime Talkeetna resident Mike Fisher in 2006. Mike was a machinist, a bicycle builder, pilot, and mechanic, to be brief. He passed away in 2009. His story is called Mike and Roger’s Excellent Adventure.

Mike and Roger’s Excellent Adventure

Sassan Mossanen is one of the event coordinators. He says part of the goal is to highlight the significance of the Talkeetna State Airport, and bring a different kind of user to town for the weekend.

1FlyIn

Visitors can take a stroll through the airport grounds to see some historic warbirds, like a Japanese world war two Mitsubishi “Zero,” a T-6 “texan,” an L-6 Grasshopper, and a Fairchild American Pilgrim

Other weekend events will include a silent Auction over two days to benefit Talkeetna Build-A-Plane. A whole range of goods are available, from home-made crafts, to gift certificates for flight-seeing,and all things in between. According to Mossanen, the number of people involved has grown every year.

2FlyIn

listen to full story [ 3:24] Cat Train Follow-Up

The incident that claimed the life of equipment operator Donald Kiehl has raised questions regarding the circumstances that led his bulldozer to fall through the ice into a pond while traveling between Gold Creek and Stephan Lake.  The equipment convoy is operating under a Department of Natural Resources permit that allows it to travel overland and requires the vehicles to remain on snow and ice covered terrain.  The original permit terms extend through May 15th.

Mike Wood, Chase Community Council Chair, clarified the route that the heavy equipment is to travel to reach Stephan Lake, where it is intended to construct an airstrip supporting preliminary research operations as part of the Susitna-Watana Dam project.  According to Wood, the cat-train was to take the McWilliams Gold Creek trail for approximately seventeen miles before turning east onto tundra with no developed trails or roads.  The DNR permit covers most of the route off of the trail, with the last leg going across native lands that require separate permits from the Tyonek Native Corporation and CIRI.  While Wood is familiar with the area, and had flown over the trail the week prior to the incident, he had not seen what conditions were like afterwards.

As part of DNR’s permit oversight, a compliance visit was conducted on Friday, the same day as the accident.  Southcentral Regional Manager for Mining, Land, and Water, Rick Thompson, stated that the visit indicated that the terms of the permit were being followed.

Rick Thompson Clip  18s

The contractor carrying out the convoy to Stephan Lake is Wasilla-based Alaska Diversified Services.  KTNA was able to speak to Ken Larson, the owner of the contracting firm, regarding the conditions of the trail.  When asked whether the approach of breakup season caused any additional concerns for the safety of the drivers and their equipment, Larson echoed DNR’s opinion that the trail was in good enough condition for travel.

Ken Larson Clip 25s

According to an Alaska Public Radio News story from May 13th, the small alpine pond is what is referred to as a “kettle pond,” which often do not freeze completely solid during the winter.  Larson added that Alaska Diversified Services has requested an extension of the DNR permit in order to extract the lost D6 bulldozer from the pond where it sank before moving on to Stephan Lake.  As of the time of the interview, Alaska Diversified Services does intend to complete the terms of its contract and bring the remaining equipment to the build site.  There is not yet a firm timeline for when the cat-train will reach Stephan Lake.

Su Valley Voice 5-15-2013-1st third

Su Valley Voice 5-15-2013 2nd part

Su Valley Voice 5-15-2013- 3rd part

After earning the Grand Prize, Craver says a publisher has contacted him about the other stories, which may one day be printed in a collection.

Here is Craver reading his story, “The Island”  [10"07]

EdCraver2

You can read the full story at Anchorage Daily News

 photos by Robin Song

On this Earth and Beyond segment, Natural Observations host and producer Robin Song tells about her experiences during the annual birdathon. Audio runs 7 minutes.  Text follows.

NatObs051213Bird-A-Thon2013

As the first Saturday in May approached, birders in Talkeetna and Trapper Creek watched the weather with trepidation. Spring was passing with glacial slowness this year, and most ponds and lakes were still sleeping under  blankets of snow and ice. Sightings of songbirds and waterfowl had been scarce indeed in the days prior to this year’s annual Bird-A-Thon. It even snowed all day on Friday. As the six p.m. start of the 24-hour bird count approached, big wet flakes slammed down out of the sky. I had watched very soggy-looking chickadees and woodpeckers coming to the feeders throughout the day, and my heart went out to them. I was happy to put fresh peanut butter out for them.

I didn’t spend much time birding Friday evening. I went to Talkeetna and searched for a magpie, hoping for first sighting, earning the Magpie Pin, but the corvids had disappeared a couple of weeks prior. I had fed 22 at the ranch all winter, but one day when I watched the flock take flight and head east something told me they wouldn’t be back. Sure enough, they didn’t come to the barn roof for their dog food kibbles the next morning. Time to build nests and hunt insects emerging from their winter sleep.

Saturday morning dawned gray with heavy overcast. Well, at least it wasn’t snowing, and the shifting clouds gave hope to maybe a little sun later in the day. As I did my barn chores a sudden sound caught my attention-a Greater Yellowlegs called from its perch atop a tall spruce at the south end of the veggie garden clearing. The first of the season had arrived just in time to be put on my birding list. I took that as a good sign. I watched and listened for a magpie, and finally at 9:40 I caught the flash of black and white as the bird whisked through the forest west of the Kingsbury’s cabin. It called once, just to confirm its identity.

My birding partner and I drove to most of the usual sites that day, but found several places inaccessible. Roads hadn’t been plowed open yet and due to injured feet, I was unable to hike in. On the way to the Yoder Road bridge, hoping to find dippers along the Montana Creek tributaries where they had been all winter, I spotted a pair of Bald Eagles sitting in cottonwoods not far off the road. Ravens were also in attendance, which told me there must be moose remains nearby. One eagle sat with wings spread, drying its feathers after it had been feeding in the wet snow. No dippers, but I was pleased to watch the eagles awhile.

At Saunder’s Crane Sanctuary I photographed 20 Sandhill Cranes walking in the dirt road on the northwest side of the barley field. The first pair had arrived only a few days before. In years past the fields had been covered with hundreds of cranes and songbirds had filled the forests while hawks hunted ducks amongst the cranes, but this year it was entirely different. I was hoping to hear a sparrow or two, but no such luck. I went over to Red Little’s farm, next to the Sanctuary. The day before, he had gone out in the snowstorm to check on his chickens and had heard a single White-Crowned Sparrow singing. After a visit, I went and stood out by a big old spruce in his yard, watching a few Common Redpolls moving amongst the branches. I listened for that elusive sparrow, but it had apparently moved on.

Driving back to Talkeetna, my last birds for the day were a pair of Common Mergansers standing on the ice beside a little stretch of open water coming into Little Montana Lake. An immature bald eagle flew by overhead, following an adult which had taken flight out of a birch as we had pulled off the highway. It was on this lake several years ago I that had seen my very first Horned Grebes. 7 males had swum in sunlit water during that year’s Bird-A-Thon, and I was delighted to mark down my first sighting. For me, I never forget my first sightings of each species. (Bald Eagle? Spotting a white head and tail amongst dark spruce from the deck of the Malaspina Ferry, coming to Alaska in August of 1980. Townsend Warbler? Bear Mt. Trail, Skilak lake, Kenai, June, 2009. And so forth.)

It was a slog through the wet snow, getting to the gathering near the Talkeetna River after Bird-A-Thon ended Saturday night. The huge ice blocks still blocked the shoreline, so we had our campfire in amongst the winter-bare trees. No terns and gulls circled above the rivers this year. The total species count of 47 was the lowest in the 20 years of the Bird-A-Thon. (The second lowest was 50 species, the highest was 85 species, logged in 2005.) Missing for the first time: American Widgeon and Bonaparte’s Gull. Missing for the second time in 20 years: Arctic Tern.

There were some surprises in the count, including Robins, Canvasback Ducks, and Lapland Longspurs. (Surprises only because migratory bird sightings had been so scarce before the Bird-a-Thon.) Robert Ambrose scored the highest species count for the “green” division, using his fat-tire bike and hiking. With a count of 32, he had his usual “good bird karma”  sighting the only White-Winged Crossbills, and a flock of Tundra Swans had flown over him. Chris and Barb Mannix tied with Deborah Brocke and Jeff Robinson for the highest species count, squeaking past Robert with 33 species.

To my surprise, I managed to win back the Magpie pin. It made up for a somewhat disappointing count, for me. I missed hearing the songbirds and seeing the many ducks, mergansers, grebes and swans of past years, but I know the snow will melt eventually, and our feathered friends will once again grace our part of the North Country. I just need to be a little more patient.

Alaska state troopers report that Donald Kiehl (age 72 from North Pole),  was deceased on scene.  State Troopers were able to secure transportation to the scene with a helicopter that was operating in the area.  Investigation revealed that a crew of men were transporting equipment and machinery to the Stephan Lake Lodge to construct an air strip and help establish a work-camp for studies for the Susitna Watana Dam. According to trooper’s reports, the crew was crossing a low mountain when the D6 Caterpillar driven by Kiehl broke through the ice on an alpine lake and sank.  Kiehl was retrieved from the lake and individuals on scene attempted CPR on Kiehl but he was unable to be resuscitated.

Wayne Dyok heads the Susitna Watana Dam project for the Alaska Energy Authority, who had given the contract to Stephan Lake Lodge to build the research camp.

13Bulldozer1

While the Alaska Energy Authority says it was the decision of Stephan Lake Lodge, who contracted to Alaska Diversified Services to bring the equipment overland, despite warming May temperatures.

13Bulldozer2

The investigation in to the tragedy is on-going.

The Secret Garden Chapter 16

How the Rhinoceros Got Its Skin

The Talkeetna Community Council sent a letter to the Borough seeking a compromise, recommending the notification radius be cut to 1320 feet instead of 600 feet.

Karen Schapansky notified the Talkeetna Council that a huge disparity exists between the amount of water pumped from the well, and the amount of water delivered at each customer’s meter. This year, the well has pumped over a million gallons of water, but only a quarter of that made it to the meters. There is no explanation for the discrepancy, but it makes developing a rate structure based on how much water is used much more difficult. In Schapansky’s opinion, if the rate is set based on how much water is pumped from the well, 2 cents per gallon would cover it. But if the rate was based on how much water was used by metered customers, it would have to be 25 cents per gallon.
Currently, the State Budget has a 100,000 item for the Water and Sewer utility to develop a business plan. Meanwhile, the Advisory board continues to look for funding sources to help with looming costs of maintaining and repairing the sewage lagoon.

A recent change to the board’s bylaws now makes it possible for any water and sewer account-holder to serve on the advisory board, and Schapansky is hopeful that will boost community involvement in the issue.

According to Alaska Earth Sciences, about 1 out of 50 exploration projects moves to advanced exploration stages with increased drilling activity, and of those, roughly 1 out of ten-thousand projects moves forward to development.

Talkeetna will be a Purple Heart city, after a vote on Monday night saw only one council member opposed. The declaration of Purple Heart City comes with a road sign, that will be placed at the VFW.

Mat Su Borough Emergency Manager Casey Cook updated the council on flood repair and mitigation projects that have been in the works since last September’s high water events. Cook informed the council that the dike was not recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, because of a borough failure to file paperwork with the Feds to classify the Dike as protective infrastructure, FEMA had no record of the dike’s existence. Because in FEMA’s view, the dike did not exists, it was ineligible for certain federal funds for repair. The Borough is filing appeals on the federal findings. Cook also said that the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for making regular inspections, but that he had so far been able to find just one record of an inspection report from the life of the dike. The Council will ask the Borough Department of Public Works to inspect the dike soon, before water rises making it more difficult to assess.

Another topic at Monday’s meeting was a personal-use wood harvest area proposed for borough lands at Beaver Road adjacent to Old-Lake road. Chris Mannix and members of the Parks and Rec committee met with Borough land managers to discuss a recreational easement for the Ridge trail which crosses areas of the proposed wood-harvest land, and were able to secure a 250 foot buffer for the trail, but land-owners from the area expressed concerns about how a 600 acre area could sustain harvesting activities without damaging the ecology of the land. Mark Wildermuth and Billy Fitzgerald both expressed a desire to see the whole area set aside as recreational lands, but due to the presence of a gravel pit in the area, it is unlikely that the borough would reclassify the lands. The Council ultimately agreed to ask the Borough to make some adjustments to the harvest permits. If harvests are to be allowed, the council agreed that it would be preferable that harvesting occur only in the winter, and to limit vehicle access to tracked winter vehicles, to minimize damage to the vegetation. They also will ask the allowable harvest be reduced from 6 cords to three, and make community reviews possible in case the wood harvests are damaging the area.

The final 30 minutes of the epic meeting saw a flurry of actions approved. The council will write a letter to the borough requesting that funding for Community Schools be added back to the budget, after it was eliminated in the current proposed budget. The Borough assembly will be deliberating the budget this week.

The council will also submit a Community Improvement Project Request for capital construction of a new library in Talkeetna. The request will only be submitted as a contingency in the event that library is not allocated funds from the Borough budget.

The late meltdown of winter snow and ice was undoubtedly a big contributor to the lowest numbers of bird species ever seen by participants in the local birdathon’s twenty-year history. The group of nineteen participants who gathered at river’s edge Saturday night found a total of only 47 different species of birds. This contrasts to a high number of 85 species in 2005. Bad weather and visibility Friday night, fewer birder-hours, and poor cross-country traveling conditions may have also contributed to a low species count.

Birders did turn up a few surprises: canvasback ducks at Fish Lake, three Lapland longspurs which spent the day on Barge Drive, and a flock of white-winged crossbills. Though pine grosbeaks can be numerous at feeders in the winter, they are not often found by birders the first week in May. Two females were spotted this year, however.

Missing completely from the list for the only time in twenty years were the American wigeon and Bonaparte’s gull. The yellow-rumped warbler and the arctic tern were listed all years except for this year and one other year. Besides the familiar sounds of many common redpolls, there was very little birdsong, even by the few robins and varied thrushes in the area.

Birders Chris and Barbara Mannix, and Deborah Brocke and Jeff Robinson listed thirty-three species. Robert Ambrose once again turned in the highest “green” birding list, using his own two feet and his bicycle to find thirty-two species. Participants look forward to several more weeks of returning migrants.

Note: Correction to previous version of this story: In between preparations for his wedding and the ceremony, Doug Gualtieri heard a yellow-rumped warbler in Freedom Hills…which brought the group total to 47.

Photos by Robin Song

Host and producer Robin Song relates the experiences of photographing the flocks of thousands of snow geese and Canada geese, along with cranes, swans, and ducks, feeding Palmer area fields in late April. Text follows audio.

AmpNatObs5513SnowGeese

Spring, this year, is unfolding slowly. Cold nights have kept the snow from melting quickly and the hayfields at the ranch are still sleeping under an unbroken white blanket. The Snow Buntings came and went in the first weeks of April. The peak flock numbered 16. By the 20^th they had moved on. The massive flock of Redpolls, which had kept me company all winter, suddenly disappeared on the 19^th. I knew they had to leave, sometime, and I tried to prepare myself for their absence, but I missed their noisy chatter all the same.

I received emails from the birding groups about more and more birds arriving in the North Country. When sightings of geese in Palmer began, I decided to make the trip down to see them. I had not seen the migration of Snow Geese since I lived in Ninilchik in 1987 and had gone to see them at their stopover near Soldotna. It was time.

I wound up going twice. When I drove down on April 24^th, the clouds were coming in. I had taken a gamble on the weather. I found a few hundred geese on a small marsh by the Providence Center, and joined a couple of other photographers pulled over beside the highway. While there was no sunlight on the majestic birds, the mountains wreathed in clouds made for a splendid backdrop. In amongst the Canada geese were a few Snow Geese and White-Fronted Geese. Zooming in on my photos later, I also picked out American Widgeon ducks, Mallards, and a few Pintails.

I had picked up my friend CW at his home in Willow on the way down, and he was my driver for the day. We headed for the Butte, going by the recent sightings from the emails. Across from the Reindeer Farm we spotted a few hundred geese way out in the middle of a hayfield. Too far for my camera’s range. Just as we were leaving, a beautiful Harlan Hawk took flight from a tree branch above the car.

A couple of miles farther along the road we came around a bend and were passing yet another farm when I spotted geese in a field just beyond farm buildings. And then…there they were: thousands of geese! I grabbed CW’s arm. We pulled into the drive and CW went up to the farmhouse and knocked on the door. What could be described as Santa Clause’s farmer cousin answered and kindly gave me permission to go out into the field to photograph his visitors.

I spent the next two hours in birder bliss. A chill wind blew and eventually I put up my jacket hood. I hadn’t grabbed my gloves in my haste to get out to the field and after awhile my fingers grew stiff, then numb. I kept one in my pocket whenever I could. It was worth every discomfort, though. Barley seeds lay scattered on the ground from where they had been left last year and the geese were busy eating, preening and talking amongst themselves. Skeins of birds flew in from different directions almost non-stop. It was evening and it seemed they were coming in to this area for the night. There were far more Snow Geese here, and their white bodies dotted the field in amongst the thousands of Canada Geese.

When I had almost used up my camera card, I turned to go and walked slowly back across the field. Suddenly the birds all became quiet. I stood to watch them, and a silent signal was given, for in a single motion a huge section of the geese lifted into the air. Their calls began again immediately as they flew and they circled round and landed again farther out in the field. I knew I hadn’t spooked them, for they had ignored me no matter how much I had moved around. Just after they landed again, I spotted 7 Trumpeter Swans winging in over the trees behind me. The great white birds landed in amongst the geese, standing tall over them. I kept thinking how much more wonderful each photo would be with sunlight, so I decided I had to make another trip down.

Two days later I was on my way again. While it was overcast and windy in Talkeetna, on the phone CW said it was sunny in Willow and on south. I headed for the fields by the Palmer airport first and found several dozen Snow Geese in the pasture with the cattle near the Palmer cemetery. I was surprised to see the geese, along with some Canada Geese, walking over patches of snow and drinking from puddles, oblivious to the cows and calves moving around them. After a photo session I was itching to get over by the mountains, and headed for the farmer’s field again. When I arrived, there were a few hundred geese there, but many more were flying in. I had brought an extra camera card, and had my warm gloves, this time.

The sunlight made a big difference in the ambience of the photos. The geese flying against the blue sky and the sun lit snow on the mountains were breath taking. As I set up my monopod on the north end of the field, my back to the road, I heard what I thought was the sound of distant machinery running. It took me a little while to realize that it was coming from the geese. The shear mass of birds on the ground and arriving all the time was putting out a constant rumble of sound as they talked to each other.

About an hour in, suddenly all the birds grew silent. Heads went up. Then, of one accord, a huge section of the flock nearest me took to the air. Geese filled the sky around me as they circled and came around the field, to land a bit farther out. I looked around. To my left an immature Bald Eagle was settling onto the branch of a tall birch in the strip of forest along the road.

During the second hour I watched a huge flock of geese far across the field lift into the air, circle back and land again. Thousands of Snow Geese were in that flock. At my end of the field it was mainly Canada Geese with a few hundred Snows and a smattering of White-Fronteds. A flock of a few dozen Sandhill Cranes flew in and landed across the field, joining the geese at the far end. As with the prior trip, just before I left, a few swans came winging in-3 Trumpeters, this time.

A bank of clouds moved in from the west and dulled the light, signaling my time to go. It was hard to tear myself away from the spectacle, for I didn’t know when I would see its like again. Talkeetna is not on the flyway for the geese, which will be heading up to Delta, Paxton, Fairbanks, and points on west and north. Though a long drive, it was well worth it, and brought the spring alive for me while I wait for the return of more migratory birds to our area. Two days later I received an email that the first Rufous Hummingbird had returned to a feeder in Chenega Bay, in Prince William Sound. Ah spring, what a glorious time of year!

By Robin Song, 4-2013

]]> http://ktna.org/2013/05/06/natural-observations-snow-geese/feed/ 0 http://ktna.org/2013/05/03/railroad-to-spray-chemicals-along-tracks-between-may-and-august/ http://ktna.org/2013/05/03/railroad-to-spray-chemicals-along-tracks-between-may-and-august/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 23:11:22 +0000 Lorien Nettleton http://ktna.org/?p=26065 Herbicide spraying will take place along the Alaska Rail Road Train Tracks in the Talkeetna Area for the first time since 1983. Since the Alaska Department of Conservation changed the regulations governing herbicide and pesticide application in March, the Railroad no longer needs to apply for a permit or wait out a public comment period. Instead, they notify the DEC of which pesticides they intend to use, and when the application will take place. In the case of the Alaska Rail Road, the period which they will apply pesticide is between May and August.

listen to full audio [2:31] Pesticide-231

The consistently cool temperatures of April have allowed the snowpack to gradually thaw. The addition of nearly an inch of rain and snow in the last 24 hours has increased the water volume of the above-average snowpack. If temperatures get in to the 50s during the week ahead, rapidly melting snow could pour in to the Susitna. The river ice is still fairly strong, and additional water could create conditions that make ice jams and flooding possible. However, if the warmup is short-lived, a return to cooler weather could give the rivers more time to gradually thaw.

Emergency Services Chief Eric Denkewalter cautions residents to stay on alert. He says that in the event of flooding, notice will be put out, and sirens will be sounded as an alert to be ready to leave. KTNA will have more updates on the river and weather as conditions change.

This week, one of a series of stories about women on Denali that KTNA news producer Johanna Eurich recorded in 1997. In this segment, Johanna talks to former Trapper Creek resident Betty Menard, who, at 21, became the first Alaska Native woman to climb Denali, earning her a page in mountaineering history.

Denali Women-Betty Menard-5min18sec

Betty Menard now spends most of her time in sunnier climes.

For much of the state, April 2013 was among the coldest in the past 74 years. Looking back even further, in the eastern Interior this was the coldest April since 1924, while in South Central for many places this was the coolest April since 1985.

May arrived and most of Alaska’s rivers are still locked in ice. National Weather Service staff and river observers collect ice thickness data around the 1st day of each month during the winter. However, except on the North Slope and northwest Alaska, by the start of May ice is typically gone or unsafe for measurements. Not so this remarkably backwards spring. Ice thickness and snow on the ice at nearly all measured locations in the central Interior was THICKER than at the start of April.